A metal exchange method for thiolate-protected tri-metal M1AgxAu24−x(SR)180(M = Cd/Hg) nanoclusters

We herein reported the first synthesis of tri-metallic M1AgxAu24−x(SR)180 (M = Cd/Hg) nanoclusters by a two-step metal exchange method. Optical spectra suggested that the second and third foreign metals could largely change the electronic structure of homogold Au25(SR)18− nanoclusters. This work also provides a novel way to find the doping site of some special metals (such as Cd), which can be done using silver as the isotope of gold.